Battery terminal post mounting



May 18, 1954 H. E. JENSEN BATTERY TERMINAL POST MOUNTING Filed March 3, 1953 INVENTOR flenry E Jensen, B @A F ATTORNEY Patented May 18, 1954 I 2,678,960 BATTERY TERMINAL POST MOUNTING Henry E. Jensen, Norristown, Pa., assignor to C & D Batteries, Inc., Conshohocken, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 3, 1953, Serial No. 339,970

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to storage batteries and more particularly to the mounting of terminal posts in plastic covers for the cases of such batteries.

Since plastic is now being extensively used in the manufacture of storage battery cases and the covers therefor, a problem has arisen regarding the mounting of terminal posts in the plastic cover. In terminal posts as heretofore assembled in a battery cover it is conventional to provide the post with a flange which seats against the inner face of the cover and which coacts with an external nut seating upon the outer face of the cover as a clamp. This usual construction has been found impractical with plastic covers because the cast post flange varies vertically relative to the plane of the top of the case. Thus, in one instance it may take its position spaced below such plane and consequently when the cover is placed upon the case it fails to seat upon the flange so when the nut is drawn tight the cover is bent inwardly to its fixed position. Again the flange may be so high as to cause distortion of the cover in the opposite direction when the clamp is applied. Either of these contingencies places a plastic cover under such severe strains as to cause crazing of the plastic or distortions of a weakening nature.

An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal post mounting for plastic battery covers which can be assembled without distorting the cover.

Another object is to provide a terminal post mounting wherein the terminal post has no parts inside of the battery case to contact the cover.

Another object is to provide a terminal post mounting'wherein plastic retaining means are bonded to the plastic cover.

A further object is to provide a terminal post mounting wherein a tubular lead insert forms a sleeve about the post and which is locked in place by plastic rings bonded as an integral part of the plastic cover.

A still further object is to provide a terminal post mounting wherein means are provided to prevent turning of the post under torsional strains.

Further objects will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 represents a sectional elevation of a terminal mounting embodying one form of the present invention; Fig. 2 represents an exploded view of the associated parts; Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 represents a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 represents a plan of either of the retaining rings; andFig. 6 represents a section on line 66 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, one form of the present invention is shown for association with a plastic battery cover ID as a sealed mounting for a lead terminal post ll. As illustrative of the invention, only that portion of the cover Ill is shown which includes one of the terminal post holes l2, and which can be considered either the positive or negative post, since the mounting is the same for each. The post ll traverses the cover post hole E2 to protrude above the cover ll] for attachment of the usual lead cable connector. Also, it should be noted that the post hole [2 has a diameter greater than that of the post H to provide a circumferential space to receive a tubular lead insert to be hereinafter described. Furthermore, that portion of the terminal post ll below the cover and within the battery case is formed without the usual lateral flange normally abutting the inner face of a cover as part of the means for clamping it in place to the cover. In accordance with the present invention the post to which the mounting of the invention is applied has no part contacting the plastic cover. The cover 10 is formed or molded of synthetic plastic, such as polystyrene and is dimensioned to seat marginally upon the top of the battery case where it is sealed by 2. depending marginal rib I3, which seats upon an internal marginal recess of the battery case and is hermetically sealed by binding the cover and case together with a suitable plastic cement or heat seal. As shown, the upper face of the cover in is formed with an upstanding annular flange [4 concentrically encircling the post hole 12 but of larger diameter to form an annular channel I5 of L-shaped section.

As an associated part of the post mounting means, a tubular lead insert I6 is provided having an external circumferential flange H at one end to seat against the inner face of the cover Ii] while its body part traverses the post hole [2 with a close lit, to terminate adjacent to the protruding end of the post i l. Externally that portion of the insert 16 above the flange l1 tapers convergingly upward to provide a protruding end portion dimensioned for a tight fit with a terminal lug l8 seated thereabout in lead burned relation. Internally the bore 20 of the insert [6 tapers convergingly upwardly from the flanged end to provide an end opening 2| to encircle the protruding end of the post H with a snug fit in order to be lead burned thereto. The lower large end of the bore 20 is of greater diameter than the encircled part of the post I I so that the resulting assembly has a clearance 22 between the post i l and the insert it which gradually widens towards the inside of the battery case. This clearance functions to discharge any material tending to grow by chemical action.

In order to attach the insert it to the cover ii) and thus permanently lock the post i l to the cover ill, two retaining cup-shaped rings 23 and 2d are provided and function at opposite sides of the cover I!) to lock the insert it and its united post it to the cover. For ease in assembly and for economy reasons, the two rings are interchangeable, each being a duplicate of the other. ,By reason of the cup-shape, each ring forms a hole 25 opening into a larger diameter depressed cavity 2:3 dimension d for alternate functions according to whether it is used as the outside or inside ring with respect to the co In the former instance, the ring diameter corresponds to the diameter of the rib in order to seat thereon, whereupon the cavity 253 alines with the channel l5 to form a relatively large circumferential groove for the reception of a suitable sealing grease, which, after assembly, can be pressure injected through holes in the ring. The contacting races of the ring and the rib are then bonded together by a plastic cement or by heat sealing so the ring becomes an integral part of the cover iii. Also, when so united, hole has a snug lit against the outer face or" insert The duplicate ring, when in place abutting the of ti e cover, seats the insert flange ll snugly the cavity while its hole registers with the insert bore 2% as a continuation of the clearance about the post H. The abutting race of the ring bonded to the inside of the cover a plastic cement or by heat sealing, in order to become an integral part of the cover and also to interlock with insert flange ll as a retaining means.

To guard the mounted assembly against relative turning due to torsional strains, frequently caused by the ataclnnent of a cable cl plane surfaced ilat is formed on the periphery of the flange ii for mating relation with a coinplernental segment flat 29, acros the cavity in the retaining ring to be assc rated therewitli. By this construction the post ll and the insert Hi are anchored in the integral plas Lc rii gs and case, thereby preventing relative turning of the post due to external torsional forces.

In assembling the mounting, the cover verted to permit the insert it to be passed through a post hole so that its flange seats against the inner face of the cover ill. ring 23 or 26 is now put in place with insert flange IE' seated in the cavity and wth the two flats 2E and 29 juxtaposed. The ring is now bonded to the cover by a plastic cement or by heat sealing. The cover i is now turned over, placed upon the top of the case with a post it telescoped within the insert The other ring is now seated upon the cover '1? go is encircling the protruding end of the insert ill, and bonded to the outer face of the cover it. The protruding ends of the post i l and insert it are now lead burned together, sealing the upper end of the clearance 22 to the atmosphere. A grease gun now extrudes sealing grease through the holes 2? to fill the channel l5. cable attaching lug it is now lead burned to the end portion of the insert it.

From the foregoing it will be seer. that the two plastic rings and have now become an integral part of the cover it and coast with the novel insert to form a stable, effective mounting for the terminal post 55. Since the post i! has no parts in the path of the cover as it lowered into place on the battery case, any variation in the length of the post cannot obstr' ct mounting the cover in a true horizontal undis torted plane. Also, it should noted that the insert It is formed internally with circumferentially spaced ribs or heads extending length wise of the bore 26 and ifunctl ng to contact the post it to assure proper alineinent between the parts.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A battery post mounting comprising the combination of a plastic battery cover having a post hole, a lead terminal post traversing said hole and protruding above said cover, said post having a diameter less than the diameter of said hole to provide a circumferential space, a tubulead insert traversing said space to protrude through above said cover and encircling said to form clearance, the outer end of said insert being lead burned to said post to seal said clearance to the atmosphere, a circumferential on the inner end of said insert seated against the inner face of said cover, a cupshaped plastic ring internally seating flange and in contact with the inner face of cover, means integrally bonding said ring to said cover, a second plastic ring encircling said insert in contact relation and seated on the outer face of said plastic cover, means integrally bonding said second ring to said cover, and means between said second ring and said insert.

2. A battery post mounting in accordance with claim 1 wherein means are provided to prevent the mounted post from turning due to externally applied torsional force.

3. A battery post mounting in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second plastic ring is cupshaped to form an annular cavity for the packing means.

l. A battery post mounting in accordance with claim 2 wherein said preventing means comprises conipleniental contacting flat segments respectively on said flange and said fist plastic ring.

5. A battery post mounting in accordance with claim 3 wherein the two rings are interchangeable for assembly purposes.

6-. A battery post mounting comprising the combination of a plastic battery cover having a post hole to encircle the protruding end of a terminal post with an annular space therebetween, a tubular lead insert traversing said space with. its protruding end integrally connected to said post, a circumferential flange on the inner end of said insert abutting the inner face of said cover, said flange having a flat segment, a cup shaped plastic ring internally seating said flange and having a flat segment complemental to said flange segment, means integrally bonding said ring to the inner face of cover, and a second plastic ring encircling the protruding end of said insert in contact relation, and means integrally bonding said second ring to the outer face of said plastic cover.

'7. A battery post mounting in accordance with claim 6 wherein packing means seals the joint between said second ring and said insert.

8. A battery post mounting in accordance with claim 7 wherein said insert and said first plastic ring provide a clearance about said post opening into the interior of the battery case.

9. A battery post mounting in accordance with claim 8 wherein beads are disposed in the clearance to center and prevent displacement of said post.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date l/HlAl/l Cook Apr. i, 1922 1,480,895 Doughty et al. July 3, 1923 1,98,166 Cole Nov. 23, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS llumber Country Date 285,501 Great Britain May 17, rear 321.681 Great Britain l Nov. 15. 1929 

